A painter of mythological scenes, landscapes and figure studies, Rupert Bunny is best known for intimate scenes of women indoors, on balconies or relaxing in sun-dappled landscapes, as well as interpretations of mythological subjects. He studied at the National Gallery of Victoria School from 1881 to 1884, then traveled to Europe in 1884. There he studied at the St. John's Wood Art School, London under Philip Calderon, then also in Paris under Jean Paul Laurens. He lived mainly in France apart from brief visits to London and Australia in 1911 and 1928. He was one of the few Australian artists of his generation to establish an international reputation. Contemporary critics admired Bunny's handling of light and texture, praising his works for their `unaffected charm' and `masterly technique'. Bunny also composed music. He returned to Melbourne in 1933, in 1946 he was honored with a retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.